Rodgers: Why we need the Anfield army

Brendan Rodgers has reiterated the benefit of the 'army of supporters' at Anfield, who he believes can play a crucial role in Liverpool's fortunes during the remaining seven games of the season.

The manager and his players were stunned by an incredible welcome before their Barclays Premier League fixture with Sunderland on Wednesday, as fans lined Anfield Road with banners and flags.

Propelled by the passion inside and outside the stadium, Rodgers' charges secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Black Cats to record a seventh straight win and reclaim second place in the standings.

As the Reds now prepare to host Tottenham Hotspur in L4, the Northern Irishman has explained how a positive attitude and atmosphere can have a huge impact as the campaign nears its conclusion.

"My message to the fans is to enjoy it," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. "We need the fans to stay calm. I know when you want something so much, that's easier said than done.

"They haven't been in this position for a while. I can understand that sometimes there is that bit of trepidation and fear.

"But what we're looking to put in place here isn't just for one season. We're looking to put something in place for the longer term in order to have sustainable success.

"We're hoping that last season was the beginning. It maybe didn't seem that way in the first four to six months but we did a lot of the groundwork last year and we've been evolving ever since.

"The atmosphere at Anfield can be a real cauldron and now we really need our army of supporters to really get behind us.

"If a player makes a mistake, then encourage him. That's so important, because if they get that encouragement then they will get on the ball again.

"Amazing support at home is something we've had all season. Let's make sure in these last remaining games it continues along that way. Don't be frightened to really enjoy it because as players and staff, we will."